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Volunteers needed to help put together annual Trash to Treasure event

March 17, 2009

Volunteers needed to help put together annual Trash to Treasure event

This May, volunteers can enjoy the experience of working with friends and fellow community members in Beaver Stadium, all while raising money for local non-profit organizations and helping the environment.

Trash to Treasure is Penn State’s biggest town-gown recycling effort. Annually, the program raises approximately $50,000 for the Centre County United Way and saves more than 60 tons of usable goods from going to a landfill. It does this by collecting donated goods from students as they are moving out of the residence halls at the end of each semester and selling them at a low price. Beginning the week before finals, collection bins are placed in residence hall lobbies to collect student donations.

Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to sign up to help organize this year’s Trash to Treasure spring sale. Beginning on Friday, May 8, many flexible shifts will be available. No previous experience is necessary and volunteers can receive a coupon that can be used to purchase items on sale day.

“Trash to Treasure is an excellent activity for everybody on many levels,” Trash to Treasure creator Al Matyasovsky said. “Each set of helping hands saves perfectly usable goods and gets the items to people who can use them. It’s also a great place for people from all over our community to work together.”

Entering into its eighth year, the program has raised more than $300,000 for the Centre County United Way and saved nearly 500 tons of goods from being shipped to a landfill. Each year, hundreds of volunteers, from individuals to community groups, take time during the month leading up to the spring sale to volunteer. Hundreds more flock to Beaver Stadium on sale day to find great deals on donated items, including a large selection of clothing, furniture, electronics, rugs and more.

"Volunteering is very important to the success of the event," Matyasovsky said. "It's what keeps Trash to Treasure up and running."

This year’s event begins with an early bird sale at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 30 at Beaver Stadium. The regular sale starts at 9:30 a.m. For more information, visit http://www.trashtotreasure.psu.edu.